Good afternoon.

I'd like to call the April 22nd Board of Public Works meeting to order.

My name is Todd Wilson, Director and Chair of the Board.

I'd like to ask our board members to introduce themselves.

Starting my left.

Seba Jawanza.

Bob Perrin.

Good afternoon, Susie Cordy.

Dan Haig.

Idrish Redman.

Leslie Schulte.

Thank you.

I'd also like to introduce our board counsel behind me, Ben Morical and our board coordinator, Jennifer Domingos and other DPW staff.

Our first order of business is to adopt the April 22nd 2026 agenda.

Do I have a motion to adopt the agenda?

So moved by Bob Perrin.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Seconded by Edis Redman.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

That motion carries.

Next item on the agenda are approval for the minutes.

Do I have a motion to approve the minutes for March 11th, March 25 to it?

March 11th, March 25th, and April 8th.

Do I have a motion?

So moved by Susie Courty.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Sebeka Juanza.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Seeing none that motion carries.

Next item on the agenda is a public hearing.

I'll ask uh board counsel Benjamin Moracle to read the rules governing public comments.

Yes.

Uh before we open the floor to public comments, we would like to remind board members and the public of a few ground rules so that everyone can have a fair chance to speak and be heard.

It is important that we each observe the following rules.

First, each speaker will be limited to two minutes.

Second, public comments must reasonably relate to the agenda item under consideration.

Third, speakers who stray from the item under consideration or become unduly repetitious may be asked to move on to their next point or conclude their comments.

And finally, attendees who cause disruptions that prevent the board from proceeding through today's agenda reasonably efficiently will be removed.

Please remember remember that the First Amendment does not protect some types of threatening speech or incitement to violence.

We will deal with those issues as they arise, but we do not anticipate that they will.

And now, Mr.

Chairman, if you will undertain a motion to adopt these rules, we can proceed to public comment.

Do I have a motion to adopt the rules as writ?

So moved.

So moved by Dan Haig.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Seconded by Edis Redman.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Seeing none of that motion carries.

Uh Daniel Stevenson will present.

Thank you so much, Director Wilson and members of the board.

Uh Daniel Stevenson, Deputy Director of Policy and Planning for the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works.

Indiana Code 52381 authorizes a governmental body to enter into a public-private agreement for any combination of the development financing or operation with respect to all or a portion of any new or existing transportation infrastructure project.

The statute requires that the selection of a contractor to enter into a public-private agreement be made via a request for proposal or RFP.

For project ST 26600, DPW in the city's purchasing division issued RFP 14 DPW 1775 on February 20th, 2026 to solicit proposals.

Two proposals were received.

DPW reviewed and scored those proposals and now recommends to the Board of Public Works that a public private agreement be awarded to Avenue Inc.

for the construction of the aforementioned awarded INIP projects as they provide the best scored proposal to meet the requirements of this construction program.

Given the unique nature of this public-private agreement, which involves design, construction work and operation, Avenue Inc.

has not yet selected the subcontractors and vendors it may use in carrying XBE participating and carrying out its obligations.

However, Avenue Inc.

has committed to meeting or exceeding the city's overall XPE participation goals.

Avenue Inc.

will submit the necessary information to the Office of Minority and Women Business Development for its XBE participation.

OMD OMWBD has approved this approach.

And with that, I am happy to answer any questions you have specifically on this.

If you have questions about the INIP program, we do also have members of the selection committee here that can help answer questions if I can't.

And we also have Charlie Kakmar here with us from Avenue Inc.

Thank you, Daniel.

This is a public hearing.

So would any members of the public like to speak?

Okay.

Would any members of the board like to speak or have any questions?

I have a question.

Daniel, um in this uh selection score scoring, what are the top two or three parameters that are uh that are scored?

Yes.

So the top parameters that we were looking at was overall project approach for these INIP projects.

So I don't know how familiar you guys are with INEP.

Do we have like a fairly comfortable level here?

Why don't you tell us what INEP is for the Yeah?

So essentially what they are is the City of Indianapolis partnering with community partners around the city of Indianapolis to get actual permanent infrastructure needs met within their communities.

Um it's a 50-50 cost share award program, everything runs through DPW uh to achieve those goals.

So the biggest was project approach and how that how they were going to pursue that.

Uh what teams they pulled together was a top scoring criteria on that.

Um what I can also do is through Jennifer send you guys over.

Um it was in the actual published application.

I'm happy to have you guys review the um the whole scoring sheet for how we scored those.

My second question is I think AvNU didn't we award them the contract in the past.

That name sounds familiar.

I'm just curious how's that one working out.

My understanding is that it's going well.

Um we have uh for a very similar type of um award process like this like BOT public private, and uh it's going well, is my understanding.

Um I I can't speak specifically to that project.

I'm not overseeing that one, but yeah, it's going well.

There's only so so many firms out there that are you know kind of familiarized with this area, so it's probably why you're seeing their name again here today.

And just for clarity, we're voting on we're not voting on the applications for the the community partners.

This is just for the comp the organization that will help support.

Yeah, this is just going to be for the organization, um, not on the individual projects themselves.

Uh, this is a new approach for INEP that we think is going to far better deliver these within a timely manner for our INIP community partners in a way that running these very small projects through the standard design bid build process just I mean it takes up a lot of time for what could equate to hundreds of linear feet of sidewalk repair.

Um so it's just we're hoping to deliver faster and better for the residents.

And what's the what are some examples of INIP projects that have been completed in the past?

Yeah, no, absolutely.

So the top of mind would be over with our partners at CFI 70.

Uh, we did the installation of a brand new crosswalk with enhanced ADA curb ramps and hock signals for student safety.

Uh crossing near 40, I forget what that street is, is it park?

Thank you.

Uh it's at Park and Central is where that crosswalk was installed.

So that is top of mind.

We've done in the past with other schools where we've done sidewalk replacements.

Um we do uh resurfacing with it.

Uh that's typically where we see most of these projects fall is within you know, road resurfacing or sidewalk repair or replacement.

And is there a maximum dollar amount for these projects?

Yeah, um, the maximum amount that we award to projects is $500,000.

So what that really equates to is a million dollars worth of infrastructure work happening.

Um, these projects tend to fall in a far lower bracket range than that for that 50-50 cost share, though.

And so Avenue, they will collect neighborhood applications, choose, and then so yeah, no, absolutely.

So, kind of where we're at right now in the process is we will now start reviewing the applications that were received in the most recent call for projects.

Um we can't do that until uh after this agenda item here today is passed.

So, what we will do is then myself and Chris Davner, uh, who actually manages the overall community powered infrastructure program that INEP falls under.

Um, we will work together with Avenue to actually go through and get scoping done for all of these projects, get those guaranteed maximum prices for each of those projects, and then from there we will be able to determine final award of those projects based on the recommendations through working with Avenue.

Very good questions, thank you.

Um board members.

C and N, do I have a motion to approve the public private partnership agreement?

So moved.

So moved by Bob Perrin.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Leslie Schulty.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

C and then that motion carries.

Thank you, everyone.

The public hearing is now closed.

The next item on the agenda are change orders.

Nathan Sheets.

Yeah, good afternoon, Nathan Sheets, uh, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works.

Uh I've got a change order here before you.

This is change order number one for GT 2304, Eagle Creek Greenway phases 2B and 2C with Morphe Construction Inc.

The engineering division staff recommends the Board of Public Works approve and authorize the director to execute change order number one to GT 23004, Eagle Creek Greenway phases 2B and 2C with Morphe Construction Inc.

and the increased amount of 412,650 and 80 cents to total agreement amount for a not to exceed agreement amount of $8,284,256 and 30 cents and 39 days added to substantial and final completion dates.

Change order number one will provide compensation and quantity adjustments for change order details uh for work directive number one, which was some additional tree removal and change order uh number one point one, uh which included some additional sheet piling.

Contract change order number one accounts for 39 additional days uh added to substantial and final completion dates.

And if you have questions, uh be have to try to answer them.

Any questions?

Yeah, what's the sheet piling change order?

Yes, so uh the placement of the the trail is on a slope, and uh when the design was first pulled together, um we missed some calculations on some of the depths that were going to be required for the sheet piling.

Um, in order to ensure that uh the sheet piling is uh is uh place in a depth that will provide structural integrity, uh we have to go down an additional 10 feet.

Um so it is uh as you can see it's uh it's it's quite a large change order, but from an overall uh cost perspective of the entire project, I think we're at five percent uh of the cost at this point.

Um as you guys uh see these quite often.

Um we do try to tend to balance these change orders out, and so you'll kind of see that um when we get to the final acceptances here.

So while this is a substantial ad, um we're always looking at um underruns and overruns and trying to try to balance those out as part of the the overall project.

Any other questions CNN, do I have a motion to approve the change order?

So moved by I just read do I have a second?

Second, seconded by Sebeka Juwanza, all in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

CNN a motion carries.

Next item on the agenda are professional service agreements.

Mark St.

John.

Thank you.

Uh Mark St.

John, Chief Engineer for the Department.

Uh I have before you a professional services agreement for design on ST-12-015, uh, the 71st Street and Dean Road uh intersection improvement, which was awarded congestion mitigation and air quality for fiscal year 2028 to the Indianapolis MPO.

This design contract will be with Clark Deeds Incorporated.

The engineering division staff recommends the Board of Public Works approve and authorize the director to execute ST-12-015 71st Street and Dean Road intersection improvements, uh CMAC fiscal year 2028, a new professional services agreement for design with Clark Deeds Incorporated and the not-to-exceed total agreement amount of 498,200 with an agreement expiration date of December 31st, 2028.

Project ST-12-015, 71st Street and Dean Road intersection improvements is for conversion of the intersection uh from a traditional uh always stop control to a roundabout.

Clark Deeds Incorporated's MBE WBE VBE DOBE participation will include 16.1% to JQOL Incorporated and CTL Engineering Incorporated, 7.2% to resolution group incorporated and Dodd Title Company, 3.6% to groundbreakers LLC and 1.1% to redemption engineering.

Clark Deeds was selected through RFQ 2025-1.

Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Do we have any questions?

CNN, do I have a motion to approve the professional services agreement?

So moved by Susie Courty.

Do I have a second?

Second by Bob Perrin.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

CNN that motion carries.

Next item on our agenda are professional services amendments.

Mark St.

John.

I have before you amendment number three to BR-25-178G.

Marion County Bridge Inspections for the two 2022 to 2025 cycle with United Consulting Incorporated.

The engineering division staff recommends the Board of Public Works approve and authorize the director to execute amendment three to BR-25-178G.

Marion County Bridge Inspection 2022 to 2025 cycle, a professional services agreement with United Consulting Incorporated in the increased amount of $95,000 for a new total not to exceed agreement amount of $2 million 77,828 and 99 cents.

This amendment will provide no change to agreement expiration date of June 30th, 2026.

Amendment three provides funding to complete additionally requested design work and installation of a rigging system for the NSTM inspection of the 16th tech bridge.

This is required for the inspection needs of the county's bridges.

If you will recall, I recently had amendment number two before you at the 3 slash 11 board.

This is the same contract.

That amendment was to include this bridge on our inspection cycle.

As I informed you then, um this is a new bridge that was built as part of the 16 tech development.

It was accepted by us kind of at a weird point in our inspection cycle, and um we had to get it inspected uh in a timely fashion to meet federal standards.

Um as we've gotten more into the inspection needs on this bridge.

Um there is not a great easy way to access it, particularly the underside of it.

And so they are literally going to put together a rating system to hang off the side of the bridge to inspect it, and there's additional cost associated with that.

Uh we previously thought we could access it from below via a lift or something similar, and that's just not the case.

Thank you, Mark.

Do we have any questions about this amendment?

CNN, do I have a motion to approve the amendment?

So moved by Dan Haig.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Eegis Redman.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

CNN, that motion carries.

Our next amendment, Natalie Stevens.

Good afternoon, Natalie Stevens, Stormwater Administrator for the department.

Um the first item that I have is amendment number one for ENG 23015 on call stormwater design services with A and F Engineering Co.

LLC.

The engineering division staff recommends the Board of Public Works approve and authorize the director to execute amendment number one to ENG 23015 on call stormwater design services, a new professional services agreement with ANF Engineering Co.

LLC with no change to the total agreement amount of $500,000.

This amendment will provide updated rates and will not extend the agreement expiration to um December 31st, 2026.

Amendment number one provides updated rates to complete additionally requested design services work.

So this is work associated with some of our culvert replacement projects.

Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Do we have any questions?

Do I have a motion to approve the amendment?

So moved by Bob Perrin.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Seconded by Sebeka Jawanza.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

See none that motion carries.

Natalie, next amendment, please.

Thank you.

Um now I have amendment number three for SD 32014, the Fountain Square Area Drainage Improvements Project with WSP USA Inc.

The engineering division staff recommends the Board of Public Works approve and authorize the director to execute amendment number three to SD 32014, Fountain Square Area Drainage Improvements, a professional services agreement with WSP USA Inc.

in the increased amount of $31,510 and zero cents for a new total not to exceed agreement amount of $1,422,059 and zero cents.

This amendment will provide additional scope of services and updated rates.

This amendment will also extend the agreement expiration date to December 31st, 2027.

Amendment number three provides additional funding scope and time to complete the additionally requested design work.

This includes roadway improvements along Shelby Street, traffic signal improvements at the intersections of Morris and Shelby Streets and Virginia and Prospect Streets.

And the scope of services includes project management, some additional road design, traffic signal design, and construction phase services.

Happy to answer any questions.

Do we have any questions?

Yeah, so what major changes are coming with this additional scope?

So some of this is um we reconfigured the intersection at Shelby and Morris just to make it a little bit easier usage, and we needed to update some of the signals and the and the pedestrian signals to accommodate that.

And then the um Virginia and prospect similar with the pedestrian signal updates.

Thank you.

Are there any other questions?

CNN, do I have a motion to approve the amendment?

So moved by Sebeka Jawanza.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Aegis Redman.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Seeing none of that motion carries.

Thank you, Natalie.

Uh, next item on our agenda are final acceptances.

Uh Nathan Sheets, please.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Uh, this is final acceptance to SD 04069, Holly Creek Regional Detention Basin with HIS Constructors Inc.

The engineering division staff recommends the Board of Public Works approve and authorize the director to execute final acceptance for SD 04069, Holly Creek Regional Detention Basin with HIS constructors in for the final contract amount of 590,474 and eight cents.

Uh the board action uh is for final acceptance of the project.

Questions or concerns?

Do we have any questions?

Mr.

Chairman, I need to abstain as my husband's employee with HIS.

Thank you, Susie.

Do we have any other questions?

CNN, do I have a motion to approve the final acceptance?

So moved by Dan Haight.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Seconded by Bomper.

All in favor, signified by saying I.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Seeing none, that motion carries.

Uh next item for final acceptance.

Nathan.

Yeah, this is uh final acceptance for ST 21095, concrete pavement reconstruction of Heathrow Way from Decatur Boulevard to Kentucky Avenue with milestone contractors LP.

The engineering division staff recommends the Board of Public Works approve and authorize the director to execute the final acceptance for ST 21095, concrete pavement reconstruction of Heathrow Way from Decatur Boulevard to Kentucky Avenue with milestone contractor LP.

The final contract amount is $2,734,104 and 70 cents.

And again, this uh board action is for final acceptance of the project.

Thank you.

Do we have any questions?

Yeah, as part of this concrete reconstruction, were there any complete streets items that were added?

Um this was primarily a uh a rehab of existing conditions, so not specifically.

Um if you're familiar with that area, um this section of of uh Kentucky Avenue is is in dots section of roadway, and there aren't any sidewalk facilities out here on their their portion.

Um there was some minor signal work that we did as part of the project.

It's part of the uh reconstruction.

We did get into some signal loops uh that were in the pavement, and that uh had to be fixed, but ultimately that traffic signal is owned and operated by uh NDOT as well.

Are there any other questions?

CNN, do I have a motion to approve the final acceptance?

So moved by Aegis Redman.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Sebeka Jawanza.

All in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

CNN that motion carries.

Uh next item on our agenda is the 16th Street Bridge, uh community impact.

Um I'd like to take the moment to uh provide a little context to this item uh for the board and uh members of the audience and and the viewers.

Uh the historic 16th Street Bridge over to White River, originally constructed in 1948, is undergoing a major rehabilitation to extend the service life and address structural deterioration.

The project includes repairs to the arch structure, reconstruction of portions of the bridge, replacement of the roadway surface, and installation of new waterproofing while preserving as much of the existing bridge as feasible.

In 2016, an engineering scope report was conducted by Butler Fairman and Seifert.

That scoping report informed our MPO application in 2017, which was not selected.

We uh reapplied in 2018 as was selected for federal funding for this project.

In 2019, the city executed a contract with GAI consultants for the design of the bridge rehab.

In 2023, the city executed a contract with Aegis, formerly BLN for inspection services of this bridge.

And in 2024, the construction contract was bid through the Indiana Department of Transportation and is concurrently administering the construction contract.

The construction contract was awarded to Beatty Construction.

Beatty has been actively working on the bridge since May of 2024.

The city recognizes the closing of this bridge will impact daily travel for residents, businesses, and commuters, and understands the importance of restoring access as quickly as possible.

A full closure of 16th Street during construction is necessary due to several key factors.

One, utilities.

We have six major utility lines, including water, electric, telecommunications, and gas, which are embedded within the bridge structure.

Five must remain active during construction and require careful staging, temporary support, and phase relocations.

This work cannot be safely completed while maintaining traffic.

Construction complexity.

The rehabilitation involves removing and replacing the material inside the bridge arch, requiring full access across the entire bridge with maintaining traffic which significantly restrict access and compromise construction quality.

Removal of the arch fill elements is to stable excuse me.

Removal of the arch fill elements eliminates the stable surface for vehicles, making it unsafe to maintain traffic during construction.

Keeping the bridge open during construction could create unsafe conditions for both workers and the traveling public due to confined work zone and activity with utilities.

Multiple options were evaluated to maintain traffic, including phase construction with partial closures and relocating utilities off the bridge.

These alternatives were determined to be impractical due to high cost, extended schedule impacts, environmental and permitting challenges, increased construction risk and complexity, and the potential for broader traffic impacts.

While a full closure of 16th Street is necessary to safely complete the project, the city recognizes the significant impact it will have on the community and has heard concerns regarding the duration of the closure.

To accelerate construction, DPW will work with our contractor to increase construction crews and resources on site.

To extend work hours, including work from dawn to dust and weekends.

Evaluate strategic nighttime construction where feasible, provide additional construction oversight to minimize construction delays, and a concerted effort alongside our utility partners.

Utility work is planned to occur in two coordinated phases during construction.

These activities require coordination with multiple utility providers and introduce elements of schedule risk that are outside of the DPW's direct control.

Coordination with our utility partners occurred through throughout the project development and DPW and our team will continue this effort to minimize potential delays.

These measures are intended to shorten the construction schedule while maintaining safety and quality.

The Department of Public Works will continue to monitor progress closely and work to minimize delays whenever possible.

This board will not be engaging in a debate about the project specifics, and this board is not obligated to answer any questions.

With that, I'll pass it on to our board counsel.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh as this is not a full public hearing, I won't read the Ship LI read before, but the board would ask that those members of the public who do wish to offer comments on 16th Street Bridge Project adhere with the public comment rules that I um read at the beginning, so that's making sure that your comments are reasonably related to the 16th 16th Street Bridge Project.

Um, and then uh each speaker will be limited to two minutes uh to speak if possible.

And uh that's it.

Mr.

Cousins.

Hello, everybody.

I'm not a good public speaker, so apologize for that.

Um my name's Robbie Smith.

I'm one of the owners of Long's Bakery.

Um I guess in a two-minute speech and going off of what Todd said, it kind of changed everything that I one a lot of things that I wanted to say.

Um, you know, we look at 30th Street Bridge as something that really kind of launched a lot of this for us because communication wasn't great about this bridge, it kept getting pushback.

Um, and then when we look at 30th Street Bridge, it was supposed to be two years.

Uh the first estimate was 6.5 to 7.5 million, and it took four years, and the estimated cost of those are right now is 18 million.

So when we look at this bridge and how long it was closed, um we've been in business for 71 years.

Uh the iron skillet was in business for 70 years, and uh they had to close their doors due to lack of traffic and all the construction going on.

Um things like this are stuff we think about, especially as a business owners in the community, how it affects.

Um it's a main throwaway for us.

Um we've tried to consider talking about partial closure.

Um we still would push for that, and I understand the safety of it all.

Um we do ask for those if you are going to uh do a full closure that you guys um do everything that you guys are saying.

I look out my window every day, I can see whether somebody's not there after the after five o'clock.

Um, those kind of things are what we're looking for is expediting the process and doing the right things.

Um, and I don't think we had that before.

I think the attention that we've brought has really um gave the push to really for end and and DPW to look at this and say, hey, maybe we're not doing this right, maybe maybe this needs to be faster because I mean a lot of people rely on that for bus routes for work for school um for hospitals mainly, um, and we just feel like that's such a main artery that you're gonna cut off.

And it's scary to us.

Um we look at um you talk about financial costs, you know, that's gonna cost us at least 20 percent is what we're predicting uh every day.

That's a lot of money for us to miss out on, and we don't want to have to lay off employees or anything or possibly close our doors like Iron Skillet.

Um, you've got the Subaru plant, which is across the street, which that straddles, they have something on each side of the White River.

Um they do about 77 million dollars of business, and if you cut theirs by 20 percent, you think about how many tax dollars that that is that if you just spent a little bit more money and maybe had the right contractor and did it the right way and did it as fast as you could, you wouldn't lose that much money and tax money, and then you could put that towards that bridge.

Um I think when we just look at all of this as far as for for us, I just think that you know we've really tried hard to be good in our community and be a part of and impactful in our community and and be a staple of Indianapolis, and we just feel like cutting off that main artery really kind of takes away from a lot of what we do and who we are.

And uh, you know, I believe when you talk about Indianapolis, you talk about St.

Omo's and you talk about Shapiro's and you talk about us.

And I think that cutting off something like that, and you look at White River and the the road uh that's there, and that's what you're taking everybody down that detour route.

You've got Washington Street uh right now is partially closed, and then you close down 16th Street, you're taking everybody down 10th Street.

I mean, ambulances, school buses, kids walking, all of that stuff is all gonna be bottlenecked down to 10th Street, and that just does not seem safe.

White White River Parkway.

I think from what I understand, somebody was working on it just the other day, but the lines aren't defined.

There's right when you turn off of uh 16th Street and then you turn off uh to uh White River, there's apartments right there, and if you turn left in those apartments or somebody sitting there, that backs up all that traffic right there.

I sorry okay.

Well, thank you for your time.

I appreciate it.

Good afternoon.

Mr.

Wilson and to the board.

We first of all thank you for allowing us the uh opportunity to speak.

Um I guess uh by the uh comments that were made.

I I believe all of our, you know, well, I know it's kind of changed uh things for us, but I do want to say that it has never uh been that we were against safety.

Um just as concerned as anyone.

Speaking from a neighborhood perspective, uh on both sides, and uh we look at your you know safety uh for your crew and all of that, but we also have to consider the safety of the residents that like you said, the children.

We have four four to five schools uh that's going to be affected by this.

Um a lot of these uh people walk to school, and that's going to really um uh put them in danger from all the traffic.

Uh and again, all of us are going to be coming down 10th Street.

It's gonna be crazy around Wright River, uh 14th Street uh because all the traffic is going to be coming and it's it's bad now.

Uh and so when they close the 16th Street, it's gonna even make it even worse.

And so I guess I say we've never been, you know, we've always been about safety.

And I I really think that uh had there been uh total transparency in the beginning, um, that we probably perhaps would not even be here now.

But it's uh we didn't find out uh till after uh probably the second meeting where the safety factor came in first.

It was about uh finances.

But again, um there's been um the communication has been terrible um with the community, stakeholders in the community.

And um I just think it's been uh kind of unfair, even at our mass meeting, uh we didn't get any information prior to uh uh anything, and then it was announced to read this, and those of us that have been talking and concerned, we didn't receive anything.

We're wondering, okay, read what.

So it's been um been kind of sad for us uh to feel like we've been neglected.

And let me say this as I'm go from a seat.

Um again, hopefully that you can hear our hearts, feel our pulse, um, and kind of um help us out in here, but I will say that the trust uh from the community because of what is taking place has really been diminished uh when it comes to our officials.

So thank you for the opportunity.

W what was your name, sir?

I didn't get your own.

Good afternoon.

Thank you all for lending us your ear for a minute.

Um listening to the report that Mr.

Wilson uh read pretty much.

I like to stand and say uh we appreciate the bridge getting done.

There's no question about that.

We appreciate safety, no question about that.

But we don't what we don't appreciate is there's been no transparency.

Uh some of the things that Mr.

Wilson wrote, I think we've had four or five meetings, and some of the things that I just heard him read was the first time we heard it.

And so uh I just think as the city and community, we need to do better at communicating and working together uh to get things accomplished.

We pray that uh we wanted to hope the he's already said that the board has no voting, no taking any consideration of them.

But I wish uh from now on for the future that the board takes take the time to lend them the ear to the community because uh we feel like uh we wasn't heard.

Uh we've had some um some lack of communication, and so we asking that uh uh do better.

Now we one thing we do want to commend and thank you for we did hear this on the committee that you're gonna work extended hours, and work on weekends.

We pretty sure that'll help.

But take in consideration that all the businesses on 16th Street, which is I have one business on west side of 16th Street, and I have one east side of 16th Street.

So I'm gonna I'm impacted two times.

And so we pray that you all will uh next time taking consideration of the neighborhoods.

And uh I understand it cost lives are more expensive.

And I'm not I said in the last meeting, I'm not willing to sacrifice our young children going to school and them five schools that we're talking about, uh, for the safety of of dollars.

So that's my concern right there.

Thank you very much.

Good afternoon.

My name is Carlina Moses.

I am the Near West community builder, so I proudly serve Hallville, Hawthorne, Stringtown and We Care neighborhoods.

I want to share and acknowledge that infrastructure improvements are necessary, and we all share the same goal.

Completing this project safely, efficiently, and with as little disruption as possible.

The concern from the community is not that the bridge is closed, but how closure is managed.

Right now, communication from DPW has been inconsistent, unclear, and often reactive instead of proactive.

Residents are not receiving timely updates about closures, detours, or changes in schedule, and they deserve that information.

The lack of clear communication creates confusion, and we can't afford that when we're talking about infrastructure projects.

This closure has pushed a significant volume of traffic into the residential streets, or it will do that like other projects have currently.

Families are dealing with speeding cars, cut through traffic, and increased risk for pedestrians, cyclists, and children.

It's not just a traffic issue, it's a public safety and a quality of life issue.

So I'm asking and seeking stronger communication, and it needs to be consistent, reliable updates in plain language shared across multiple platforms.

And I'm proud to say that I have already met with Kyle Bloyd.

We met yesterday and we will continue to meet because we share ownership in this too.

Second, mitigation.

Traffic diversion without traffic calming is incomplete.

We need temporary speed control measures, clear signage, and targeted enforcement to ensure that residential streets remain safe during this closure.

Finally, we are asking for accountability and responsiveness.

What data is being collected on traffic patterns and safety impacts, and how is that data being used to make real-time adjustments, and please bring the community into that and up to speed.

This is an opportunity for DPW to set a much higher standard for community engagement during major projects.

We are ready to be partners throughout the process, but partnership requires consistency, communication, and proactive commitment to safety.

Thank you.

Okay.

Sorry.

Okay, thank you, everybody.

Um, and I'm here representing my family's business.

We've been a part of this community for 71 years.

71 years.

That means we've been through generations through economic ups and downs, through changes in the city, through everything.

We're still here today because of one thing, and that's connection.

Connection to our customers, connection to our neighborhood, connection to the city.

And that connection runs directly across the 16th Street Bridge.

We are not here to oppose this project.

We understand the bridge needs to be repaired.

We understand safety matters, and we support that.

What we don't understand is why we haven't been shown why a full year two closure is the only option.

Because based on everything presented to us, this rehabilitation is it's a real rehabilitation project, not a replacement.

And across this country, projects like this are done every day while still maintaining access and keeping traffic moving, one lane, half the bridge open, or through stage construction.

We keep hearing the word safety.

And we agree safety should come first.

But we ask who?

The safety for who?

Because the closing this bridge for two years raises serious safety concerns of its own.

What about emergency vehicles and now have to take longer and risk life and death situations, more congested routes?

What about surrounding roads that are not designed to handle this level of diverted traffic?

What about the schools in the area where traffic will increase and create new risk for children and families?

Safety isn't just about construction workers, it's about this entire community.

And right now, those impacts haven't been clearly addressed.

And what we're asking is simple.

Show us the analysis.

Show us why partial isn't possible.

Because right now, from where we stand, it feels like the decisions that was made for convenience and speed, not necessity or because it's the only safe option.

A two-year closure doesn't just cause inconvenience.

It changes everything.

It's how people reach us.

It changes whether they reach us at all.

It impacts our employees, our deliveries, and the ability to survive.

And we're not just a business, we are part of this fabric of the community.

We're what we are people who come for after church, where families stop in on their way home and where traditions are passed down.

You're not just closing your bridge, you're risking disconnecting an entire community that has worked incredibly hard to stay connected.

We are asking you respectfully to slow this down just enough to do what should have been done in the beginning.

Evaluate, compare full picture safety pictures, including emergency responses and community impact, and be transparent about why this path is being chosen.

Because it is if it is a full closure and it truly is the only safe option, then show us.

But if it's not, then you owe it to this community to find a better balance.

71 years is a long time to serve a city, and we're just asking for the opportunity to continue doing that and not cut us out from it.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

Are there anybody else that would like to speak?

Very good.

Any uh anybody from the board?

Well, seeing none, uh, this part of the uh meeting is done.

Um I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved by Susie Cordy.

Do I have a second?

Seconded by Sabaka Jamaza.

Thank you very much.

This meeting is adjourned.